It all started on a hot September evening last year. My friends and I were exhausted from the activities in school, and we were all lying on the floor of our room in the hostel when I received a text message from a close family friend. It was quite lengthy when I opened it, and in my head I thought to myself, what could be so important that would make Pa John send me this type of lengthy SMS this evening?
I quickly started reading the contents of the message, and it didn't take long for me to start smiling. Before I even finished the text, I was rolling and hollering with laughter at the content of the SMS.
“Is this one okay? What is making you laugh like a mad person?” my friend Nmeso asked.
“Maybe she's just excited because her brother sent her money?” Ngozi, my other friend, replied, sitting up excitedly.
Ngozi's suggestion made me laugh even more, and I just passed the phone to them because no amount of explanation from me would have made sense at that point. Soon enough my friends were laughing at me, and after we had calmed down, I managed to compose a polite response to the message and sent it to Pa John.
“It's not going to work; there's no way I'm allowing him to set me up with some man I barely even know,” I said to my friends, giggling.
“I don't blame the poor man; since someone has decided to remain single for the rest of her life, I guess he's just trying to help…” Ngozi replied seriously.
I looked at her and shook my head. Ngozi was the only married friend among us, and she was constantly investigating how to get Nmeso and me, the diehard single pringles, husbands or at least boyfriends.
“I know he's trying to help, but I'm still not interested. I'm tired of men and relationships, and honestly, at this point, let me just focus on getting to the final year, graduating successfully, making a lot of money, and living my life,” I replied.
“Tired of men?? You've dated just two people who ended up hurting you; it doesn't mean they aren't good ones,” Ngozi replied.
“This person has already been given your phone number, so when he calls, just be nice and tell him you're not interested,” Nmeso replied, shrugging.
“I know, my darling, that's precisely what I'll do. If he reaches out, then I'll just politely tell him to forgive Pa John, and I'm not interested in any relationship for now,” I replied.
My friends and I talked about it a bit more and moved on to other topics. We had even forgotten about the matchmaking attempt when my phone rang.
“I don't know who this is, just a random number,” I mumbled.
“That's why I've been telling you to download Truecaller, but no, you don't listen to anything I say. Anyway, answer the call… Maybe it's my new in-law!” Nmeso said, winking at me.
“See why I don't listen to you?? You're always saying rubbish,” I replied, rolling my eyes at her. After taking a deep breath, I finally answered the call.
“Hello, good evening,” a rich, deep bass voice echoed through the phone.
Ohhhh, such a nice voice, I said in my head. I wonder who this could be.
“Hi, good evening. Who am I speaking to, please?” I replied cautiously.
“My name is Jacobs. I don't know if Mr. John has reached out to you…,” the caller replied.
“Oh yes, he has. I'm Loveth. I did not think you would call so soon,” I blurted out, wildly signaling to my friends that it was indeed who Nmeso had predicted.
And that was how it began; instead of politely telling him I wasn't interested in a relationship and both agreeing not to continue talking to each other, we ended up talking about random things and sharing ideas for hours. It was strange how we both comfortably talked to each other as if we had been friends for a long time.
It turned out he also wasn't interested in a relationship at that point, but according to him, he had just been having a feeling to dial my number. He also admitted that he'd had the number with him for weeks, even before Pa John had texted me that night. Throughout that call, my friends kept on exchanging glances and laughing quietly because I hadn't stuck to the plan of politely telling him not to call me again.
The long calls turned into a beautiful, trustworthy friendship, which led to visits and trips. We both decided not to rush into anything, and we both also wondered how Pa John knew we would like each other. But as the saying goes in my country, ‘What an elder sees sitting down, a child would not see, even if he climbed the highest tree.’
Some months later the friendship turned into a wonderful relationship, as if it were written in the stars. The universe had used Pa John, who was ecstatic that his matchmaking attempt worked out perfectly, by the way, to bring us together. Hopefully things will keep going the way they are, and you all will be invited to a wedding one day…. Haha
